Submersible heater



Aug 28, 1952 H. J. PORTER 3,051,162

'SUBMERSIBLE HEATER Filed Dec. 10. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug- 28, 1962 H. J. PORTER 3,051,162

. sUBMERsIBLE HEATER Filed Deo. l0. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 ilnite drains arent @fire 3,051,162 SUBMERSIBLE HEATER Harry J. Porter, R0. Box 1475, Post, Tex. Filed Dec. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 779,386 Claims. (Cl. 126-360) The present invention relates to stock water heaters and more particularlyV to an improved heater adapted for submersion in the water in a stock watering tank to heat the Water and prevent freezing of the open Water tanks during winter weather.

It is the general custom in large stock ranches, particularly in the middle western range country, to spot watering tanks at various points in the grazing land or at the stock barns and sheds to provide a constant supply of drinking water for the grazing stock. While such water- Weather, considerable difficulty is experienced in the winter months in preventing the freezing of the drinking water and avoiding contamination of the drinking Water by the products of combustion when the presently available commercial heaters are employed. Examples of prior submersible heaters proposed for such usage are disclosed in United States Letters Patent 512,191 to J. Hanrahan dated January 2, 1894; 662,738 to C. Rascher dated November 27, 1900; 806,307 to H. Townsend dated December 5, 1905; 1,189,104 to W. Heaps et al. dated June 27, 1916; 2,535,545 to D. Moss dated December 26, 19501; and 2,606,548 to D. Clifford dated August 12, 1952. Such prior art heaters have been found to be ineffective either due to 1) an inefficient transfer of the heat to the water with resultant damage to the heater through distortion of the heater parts, (2) inefficient burning of the fuel and consequent expense in operation and deposit Iof soot and like combustion products in the Water causing contamination of the water thereby rendering it unpalatable to the stock, and (3) the `complication of the structure leading to an inordinate initial expense and troublesome maintenance requiring the services of skilled and expensive maintenance personnel.

It, accordingly, is the primary object of this invention to provide Aa submersible stock water heater of simple construction assuring eiiicient heating of the drinking water with a minimum of maintenance and reltaive freedom from contaminating deposits of the products of combustion.

Another highly important object of this invention resides in the provision of a submersible stock water heater of simple construction having a high combustion efficiency to assure substantially complete combustion of the fuel component and to minimize the presence of contaminating products of combustion llue gas.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an elongated submersible heater having a burner element extending from end to end of an enclosing housing providing a radiating surface in direct contact with the water with tangentially arranged combustion air inlets at its opposite ends and an axially centered exhaust stack to provide a swirling helical supply of air moving around the burner inwardly from the opposite ends toward the centered exhaust stack to Vassure an eicient supply of combustion air to the burner `and a fluid heat transfer medium for heating the housing while preventing direct ame contact with the housing and housing burn out spots incident to direct flame contact.

A further object of the present invention is to provide ya heater according to the preceding object with air inlet and exhaust stacks of predetermined relative size to provide an eiicient fuel-air ratio assuring substantially complete combustion of the fuel component, an adequate duid heat transfer medium and a predetermined rate of air movement through the heater housing to effect an even heating of the housing and a proper relative movement of the gases of combustion through the exhaust stack irrespective of ambient air conditions.

Still further objects will appear from the following description `and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective View illustrating a submersible heater built in accord with the present invention operatively disposed in a cylindrical stock Watering tank;

FIGURE 2 lis a longitudinally vertical sectional view of the heater shown in FIGURE l illustrating the interior construction of the heater and one of the tangentially arranged air inlets;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the heater of FIGURE 1 illustrating lin dot dash lines the location of the exhaust stack relative to the tangential end air inlets and the preferred arrangement of the burner jets; fand FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the air inlet at the right of FIGURE l and looking toward the opposite end of the heater to further i1- lustrate the interior structure of the heater and the hood and stack structure.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional View of one distributing branch pipe ofthe burner of FIG- URE 4 illustrating the interior structure of the burner jet.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, numeral 10 designates an open top cylin# drical comparatively shallow stock watering tank of suitable diameter which is filled with water to a level indicated at 12. While the tank 10 is preferably circular for accommodating the stock to be watered, other tank shapes may be alternately employed.

In accordance with the present invention, and with reference to FIGURES l-S, the means for heating the water in the tank 10 is illustrated therein and generally `designated at 14, partially submerged or immersed below the water lever 12 and centered at the bottom of the tank 10. This heater unit 14 comprises a liquid tight elongated combustion housing 16 providing a radiating surface in direct contact with the water. The housing 16 extends diametrically or radially across the bottom of tank 10 and defines a liquid tight combustion chamber .18. This combustion housing 16 is preferably a one-piece aluminum casting and is formed with end walls 19 yand an arcuate top 20 integrally joining parallel spaced apart upright sidewalls 22 and 24 which terminate at the bottom in horizontal outwardly extending flanges 26. These flanges 26 are secured -to a separate horizontal base support plate 30 by any suitable means `such as mounting screws 31 and preferably rests on a suitable sealing gasket 32.

One of the end Walls 19 is provided with an aperture' adapted to receive a fuel supply nipple 34, connected to' a suitable supply 35 having a fuel control valve 36. Nipple 34 at its end 38 is threadedly connected to a suitable burner 40 for vfacilitating combustion of fuel supplied from `a suitable supply source (not shown). The burner 40 comprises a U-shaped tubular manifold 42 centrally supported in spaced relation within the combustion chamber 18 above the base plate 30 by the nipple 34 at one end and a bracket 43 or other suitable means at the other end. The parallel fuel distributing branches 44 and 46 of the yU-shaped manifold 42 are connected together at 'their corresponding ends by a cross tube 48 which forms yan internally threaded intake extension 50 at its center in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the combustion housing 16 for connection wit-h the fuel supply pipe nipple 34. Web members 52 composed of rods or other suitable structural forms are welded between the parallel branch pipes 44 and 46 to brace and rigidly connect these pipes together. Each parallel branch 44 and 46 is formed with attened bosses 54 and 56 respectively at uniform axially spaced intervals. The flattened faces of the bosses 56 associated with branch pipe 46 are inclined at an angle toward thefuel inletV at' 50 while the faces of the bosses 54 associated with branch pipe 44 are inclined at an angleV in the opposite direction. These bosses 54 are spaced in staggered relationship with respect to the bosses 56 so as to provide diagonal pairs of bosses 54 and 56 having parallel and opposed faces. Each of the bosses 54 and 56 is provided with a through internally threaded bore 58 formed `at right angles with its associated boss face and communieating with the interior of its associated branch supply pipe. These bores 58 are adapted to receive the threaded ends of jet tubes 60 thereby providing a series of parallel diagonal pairs of jets extending upwardly at an angle and terminating equidistantly from the longitudinal axis of the combustion housing 16. 'The diagonal axes of each associated pair of jets 60 intersect each other coincident with the longitudinal axis of the combustion housing 16 at a point above the burner 40. Thus the burner 4t) comprises a series of equally spaced apart co-acting pairs of jetsAV 60 extendingdiagonally of the burner 40 and the axis of the combustion housing 16, each pair being parallel with the other pairs of jets whereby, in operation, two ne streams of fuel issue from each pair of jets at high velocity into confluence between and above the jets. A premeasured quantity of primary combustion air is continuously introduced into each -uel stream through a lateral air intake orice 62 of xed diameter provided in the wall of each jet -tube 60 adjacent and upstream from the manifold fuel discharge orifice 64 individual to each fuel jet.

As la consequence, it will be appreciated that the air fuel mixture issuing from the jets 60 produce independent columns `of flame between the branch supply pipes 44 and 46, which columns of each associated pair of jets merge to form a substantially ovoid body of ame in cross-section. Thus, a series of substantially parallel ovoid arne bodies are formed along the longitudinal axis of the combustion housing 16 and at an langle thereto.

In order to ignite the burner 4G, a pilot fuel pipe line 66 is provided and isillustrated to extend parallel to the burner -fuel supply pipeline 35 and into the combustion chamber 18 where it terminates adjacent one of the fuel jets 60.

In order to provide a source of primary and secondary combustion air, the fluid tight elongated combustion housing 16 which is adapted to be immersed below the water level 12, is provided with a pair of upright cylindrical air-intake ues 68 which are threadedly or otherwise -suitably secured to housings 70 at diagonally opposite corners of the combustion housing. The air-intake ues are adapted to extend upwardly above the water level 12 and are provided at their uppermost ends with hoods or stack covers 72 which are secured thereto by brackets 74. These hoods 72 are generally semi-spherical in shape, having skirts which extend downwardly below the upper ends of the ues 68 in radially outwardly spaced relation thereto to assure a uniformly constant air intake irrespective of ambient air conditions and to prevent entry of the elements into the flue.

The lower immersed ends of the air-intake flues 68 communicate with chambers 76 respectively formed by housings 70. The chambers 76 each communicate with the bottom of the combustion chamber 18 below the burner 40 through passageways 78 formed at a slight angle for directing the air supply into the chamber 218 below burner 40 and diagonally toward the center thereof. As a consequence, the entering air at each end forms a vortical ow path inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the combustion housing 16 and a centered exhaust stack 80.

As clearly appears from the drawings, exhaust stack 80 takes the form of an upright cylindrical flue for receiving and exhausting the products of combustion to the atmosphere above the water. The stack is longitudinally and laterally centrally mounted on the top of the combustion housing 16, the center of which is intersected by a horizontal diagonal line interconnecting the centers of the diagonally opposed air inlet flues. The lower end of the exhaust stack 80 is threadedly received in a bosslike socket 82 which forms an aperture 84 in the arcuate top 20 of housing 16 whereby the stack 80 communicates with the combustion chamber 18. The upper end of the exhaust `stack is provided With a stack cover 86 removably secured thereto by bnackets (not shown) or other suitable means to provide access to the pilot fuel line 66. This cover 86 is formed with a skirt which extends downwardly below the end of stack 80 in radially outwardly spaced relation thereto to assure a uniform and continuous outward movement of the prod- Vucts of combustion irrespective of ambient air conditions and to prevent entry of the elements into the stack.

In accordance with the present invention, the combined cross-sectional areas of the two cylindrical air inlet flues 68 exceeds the cross-sectional area of the exhaust stack 80 by 1/8. This predetermined relative size of air inlet to combustion gas exhaust and the skirted flue covers provides for an eicient fuelaair ratio, thus assuring substantially complete combustion of the fuel at all times by supplying the necessary critical excess air for complete combustion and by causing the proper relative movement of combustion gases through the exhaust stack irrespective of atmospheric pressure conditions tending to inuence the introduction of air and the exhaust of the gases. Thus, it is apparent that continuous supply of a premeasured amount of combustion air is achieved by the relative sizes of the air inlet ues and the exhaust ilue, and a continuous supply of a fixed premeasured amount of fuel-air mixture as achieved by orices 62 and 64 will establish continuous optimum and complete combustion.

In operation of the heater 14, a suitable fuel such as manufactured gas, natural gas, liquied petroleum gases, butane or propane, is `suplied from a supply source (not shown) yto the burner 40 which is lighted by the pilot 66, lwhen the control valve 36 is opened. The columns of flame issuing from the burner jets 60 in close contiguity diagonally of the burner and the longitudinal axis of the combustion housing 16 produce a series of parallel ovoid ame bodies as hereinbefore described. The tangential disposition of lthe air-inlet passages 78 relative to the combustion chamber 18 directs the combustion air intro the combustion housing 16 at diagonally opposite ends thereof to provide a swirling, helical supply of air which moves upwardly from beneath the burner tube 40 and between the branches y44 and 46 in `a helical path from opposite ends towards the centered exhaust 80. As the gases are swirled towards the exhaust stack 80, the movement thereof -forrns the ovoid -ame bodies into spiralled shapes positioning the flame bodies rin substantially centered spaced apart relation with the combustion housing 16.

As a consequence, it will be appreciated from the foregoing that helical motion of the air establishes an efcient supply of combustion air in a swirling rmass rising from beneath the burner 49 land also a uid heat transfer medium for heating the combustion housing 16 while preventing direct ame contact therewith lthus preventing burn-ou spots incident to direct llame contact on the metalic heat radiating surface. This swirling ow of gases permits a free flow of exhaust gases from both ends of the combustion housing \16 towards the centrally disposed exhaust -gas stack S0 and provides for a longer flow path through the combustion housing to Aobtain a maximum transfer of heat to the drinking -water through the radiating surface of the housing 16.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the heating of a body of stock drinking water, it is to be understood that this is only for illustrative purposes in applying the principle of the invention and that the invention may be applied for the submerged heating of other fluids if desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to =be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to lbe secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A submersible heater for use in heating a coniined body of uid comprising a longitudinally elongated housing defining a combustion chamber and having air inlet openings yat its opposite ends located at the level of the bottom of the combustion chamber and a centrally 1ocated exhaust opening in its top wall, said openings being relatively arranged to one another and to said housing to assure a movement of inlet air inwardly from the opposite ends of said housing in a vortical swirl path extending in surrounding relationship to the longitudinal axis of said housing and sweeping the walls of said housing; a fuel burner supported by said housing in upwardly spaced relation to the end air inlets and having burner jets disposed substantially in a predetermined longitudinal plane above said inlet openings so as to be along the lowermost inner cylindrical portion of said vortical swirl path to receive combustion air from said inwardly moving inlet air, said burner jets being positioned to locate the flame jets longitudinally centrally of said housing in the center of the vortical swirl path to directly heat the main body of inlet air which in turn sweeps the housing walls to substantially uniformly heat the housing walls in the passage of said body to inlet air to said exhaust opening; inlet 'air stacks communicating with said end air inlets of said housing and adapted to extend upwardly through said body of uid to dispose their upper ends above the upper level of said body of fluid; an exhaust stack communicating with said exhaust opening and adapted to extend upwardly through said body of fluid to dispose its upper end above the upper level of said body of fluid; and respective hoods associated with each of said stacks and having skirts extending in radial outwardly spaced relation to said upper stack ends to shield the upper ends of said stacks and assure a uniformly constant operation irrespective of ambient air conditions and prevent entry of the elements into said stacks.

2. The heater of claim 1 wherein said fuel burner comprises a pair of rigidly transversely related branch supply pipes extending longitudinally -adjacent the opposite side walls of said housing and said burner jets are arranged in opposed transverse pairs extending upwardly and longitudinally inwardly from said respective branch supply pipes to provide upwardly and inwardly directed jets of ilame intersectiing substantially along the longitudinal axis of said vortical swirl path.

3. A submersible heater for use in heating a coniined body of uid comprising an elongated liquid tight housing having an arcuate top and defining a combustion chamber, said housing having means defining air inlet ope-nings disposed at diagonally opposite corners thereof at the level of the bottom of the combustion chamber and a centrally located exhaust opening formed in the top thereof such that movement of air from said inlets at opposite ends of said housing is directed in opposite vortical swirl paths toward said centrally located exhaust in surrounding relationship to the longitudinal axis of said housing; a fuel burner supported in said housing in up- Wardly spaced relation to said air inlets and having burner jet means disposed above said air inlet openings in a longitudinally extending plane along the lowermost inner cylindrical portion of said vortical swirl path to receive combustion air from said inwardly moving air, said burner jet means providing for a series of substantially parallel flame bodies :along the longitudinal axis of said housing and centrally disposed within the vortical swirl path, said flame bodies being substantially ovoid and diagonal to the longitudinal axis of said housing whereby said vortical swirl path of combustion air spirals said ovoid bodies in the direction of said exhaust opening; inlet air stacks communicating with said air inlets of said housing and adapted to extend upwardly through said Ibody of duid to dispose their upper ends above the upper level of said body of fluid; an exhaust stack communicating with said exhaust opening and adapted to extend upwardly through said body of fluid to dispose its upper end above the upper level of said body of fluid; and hoods associated one with each of said stacks.

4. The heater defined in claim 3 wherein said burner jet means comprises `a pair of parallel rows of spaced apart jets, said jets being arranged in parallel diagonally opposed pairs at least one in each of said rows and projecting upwardly at an inclination toward each other to effect a coniluence of separate streams of fuel intermediate and above said rows.

5. The heater of claim 1 wherein said end air inlets are disposed at diagonally opposite corners of said housing with their respective inner chamber ends inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamlber in the direction of said centered exhaust opening so that vortical flow of inlet air through said combustion chamber from siad inlet air openings is in tangentially opposed directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,939 Butterfield Nov. 12, 1889 499,403 Sugg June 13, 1893 723,538 Mansfield et al Mar. 24, 1903 1,045,416 Levy Nov. 26, 1912 1,189,104 Heaps et al June 27, 1916 1,413,268 Fletcher Apr. 18, 1922 2,535,545 Moss Dec. 26, 1950 2,890,866 Hansen June 16, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,108 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent N0 3?()51 162 August 28y 1962 Harry J. Porter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column IV lines I6 and 17, for "While such water-weather" read While such watering tanks are wholly setisaortly during non-freezing weather line 43y for "reltaive" read relative Signed and sealed this 26th day of February 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON Ge JOHNSON Attcsting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 

